Lacey, Adam (2021) Faith and the Role of Technology. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Faith has been found to be beneficial to psychological wellbeing, potentially providing adherents with meaning, purpose, and social support networks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many places of worship were required to close their doors under law, with many adopting technological solutions as a way of continuing to gather and worship together. This qualitative study therefore sought to investigate individual’s experiences of using technology to enhance their faith and the impact on their wellbeing. Eight participants aged between 21 and 70 took part in semi-structured interviews, conducted using Zoom teleconferencing software. Using thematic analysis, three main themes were identified. (1) Technology facilitates access to faith-related materials considers how digital technology removed barriers to accessing faith-related material but introduced other difficulties, added distraction, and required individuals to be more self-motivated. (2) Online faith services cannot fully replicate the in-person experience details important wellbeing aspects that were not by replicated when technology was used as a substitute for in-person gatherings, including physical touch, the presence of others, and the perceived atmosphere of religious worship. (3) In-person social connection is an important part of the faith experience considers the importance of social connectedness on the wellbeing of those in faith communities, with negative impacts on wellbeing apparent when communities did not regularly gather in person. The findings of this study indicate that, in relation to psychological wellbeing, technology does not appear to act as an equivalent substitute for the in-person experience.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Tanya Machin; Susan Abel |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2025 23:41 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jul 2025 23:41 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | faith ; religion ; technology ; wellbeing ; covid-19 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52481 |
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